Despite my computer problems, I'll dare a post.
WoW! WoW! WoW! WHAT IF...was what BK does best! The show was impeccable! Impressively directed...full of nuances and touches that so many directors just gloss over these days. The performers were not only all terrific singers, but also terrific actors...so important in a revue where there is no story line to carry you from one moment to the next, and each song is a little three or five minute story. you can single each one of these great performers for individual moments; but they also worked brilliantly as an ensemble. Jose's piano work was top-notch and for me there is nothing better than songs sung with single piano accompaniment. It's very appealing to me. The choreography was witty and sharp and immediately evoked the styles of the songs being parodied.
Speaking of the songs. Wonderful selection of lovely, rarely heard revue numbers. Always wonderful to make new discoveries like these. And there was a wonderful blending of sweetness, humour, and heartbreaking stuff. Bruce's parody lyrics were spot on. His What If Sondheim wrote for the Yiddish Theatre medley particularly clever. Also his transitional material and bits were all extremely inventive. The Coming Attractions is hysterical. Winning performers, genius director, great show. I had a terrific enjoyable time. I want my original cast recording. Now!
BK, I'd be very interested where you thought the spots were you said you might do a little honing and re-working on. Because the show seemed pretty flawless.
One of the funnier moments last night, young Ryan opened the second act with an interaction with the audience and, much to his embarrassment, referred to access cable show-biz diva and host, Skip E. Lowe (autobiography: The Boy With the Betty Grable Legs) as Madam. I suspect it is not the first time Skip E. as been mistaken for a madam instead of a sir. But Ryan recovered nicely and ad-libbed out of the situation very well.
The laughs throughout the night were uproarious and the attention riveting. The Lovely Wife and I were in the front row on the aisle. With Mel and Carl across the aisle from us. I could sneak an occasional look in their direction and they were thoroughly enjoying it.
At the party afterwards, the Toluca Lake Reviewer came up to and said she had been sitting behind me and that if she had had an opening, she'd want me in the opening night crowd, I was such a good audience with a hearty laugh. I said it was easy to be a good audience when a show was as sharp and smart and good as this.
The most amazing feat is that this whole thing was done in about three and half weeks or something. It's so brightly polished and incisively executed.
The opening night crowd was very impressive. I thought the PR guy had done a great job in getting such a distinguished bunch of first-nighters and a theatre-savvy crowd. BK, I'm sure if you ever need butts in the seats (though I think it should run to capacity business), you can always entice The Lovely Wife and me back for another viewing or two.
I did go up to Mel Brooks during intermission and re-introduced myself and mentioned I had written a movie for him 20 years ago called THE FLY. He acted as though he might actually remember me and was very cordial and said I looked well and hadn't changed much. I told him it was the dark lighting. We also talked briefly about THE PRODUCERS. I told him after all those sung-through Les Miz's and Lloyd Webbers, I was glad he'd brought back a good old fashioned, strong book musical. He said Richard Dreyfuss was going to be very good in the London production. I told him I'd try to see it while I was there. He didn't offer me any comps.
The party after was great! Got to speak with all the cast members individually and compliment their performances. Tammy introduce us to her parents...who are younger than us. And her grandmother who isn't. Met her boyfriend and we got enmeshed in an interesting screenwriting conversation. Met other talented folk either connected with the production or who were connected to BK in some way. We stayed longer than we intended, we were having such a good time.
All in all, an exquisite theatre outing!
